Florida Master Logger Program

The Florida Forestry Association and the Florida Sustainable Forestry Initiative State Implementation Committee sponsors the Master Logger educational program in Florida. The program is designed to enhance the professionalism of loggers through training in safety, timber harvesting, business and environmental regulations.

Calendar of Master Logger and Logger Ed Classes

A Logger's Guide to Trucking Requirements (PDF)

Florida Master Logger Program Info

The full three-day Master Logger educational program provides information to the professional logger on safety, timber harvesting, business and environmental regulations. Attending the full three-day workshop is the initial requirement of being designated a Florida Master Logger. Six hours of continuing education is required yearly to maintain this status.

Florida's Master Logger +Plus Program--An additional Master Logger +Plus designation is available to Master Loggers who aspire to a higher degree of recognition. The Master Logger +Plus is achieved by passing a test which is taken on a voluntary basis and covers material presented at the three-day Master Logger workshop. The "+Plus" designation entitles those Master Loggers to special listings and recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Master Logger Program

1. What are the basic requirements to become a Master Logger?
2. What about a logger who meets all the requirements except the one year's experience??
3. Once a logger becomes a Master Logger, what are the continuing education requirements?
4. What happens if a Master Logger takes more than one continuing education workshop in a particular year?
5. What happens if a Master Logger lapses in his/her continuing education??
6. Can loggers who receive other states’ logger designations become Florida Master Loggers?
7. What happens if a nonlogger who originally took the Master Logger class as a nonlogger now has circumstances that make it beneficial to be a Master Logger?
8. What happens if a Master Logger wants to become a nonlogger??

Q. What are the basic requirements to become a Master Logger?

A.

The Master Logger program is open to persons who are loggers. By definition, a logger is one who makes his/her living in the day-to-day business operations of cutting, harvesting and removing timber. The logger does not have to be the person who actually fells trees to be marketed in a timber operation, but if not, he/she must be the person who does have the direct responsibility of overseeing the cutting, harvesting and removal of timber by persons directly supervised by them. ??The logger is the person who holds the Master Logger designation, not the logging company for which he or she is employed. If the Master Logger changes employment, the Master Logger designation will move with the logger. To receive the Master Logger designation, the logger must complete the three-day course and have a minimum of one year of logging experience as referenced above. Nonloggers (foresters, dealers, etc.) are encouraged to attend the Master Logger workshop, but will not earn the Master Logger designation.

Q. What about a logger who meets all the requirements except the one year's experience?

A.

Loggers who attend the Master Logger course and meet all the requirements except the one year's experience will be placed in a Master Logger "pending" status. Once the logger has satisfied the one-year requirement, he/she will be placed on the Master Logger roll, and will receive his/her Master Logger certificate, ID card, cap and decals. The expiration date and continuing ed requirements are based on when the three-day Master Logger workshop was completed (see #3).

Q. Once a logger becomes a Master Logger, what are the continuing education requirements?

A.

To keep up on the latest laws, regulations and issues impacting the industry, a Master Logger must receive six hours of continuing logger education, as approved by the Society of American Foresters (SAF), every year beginning with the start of the second year of the Master Logger designation. All Florida Master Loggers have a standard expiration date of 12/31 for receiving their continuing education. For example, Joe Logger receives his Master Logger designation on March 30, 2007. His expiration date to receive continuing education will be December 31, 2009, and in succeeding years, by December 31 of each year. Loggers can receive their continuing education courses from: Florida Forestry Association sponsored workshops, including the FFA Annual Meeting; university system; Society of American Foresters; other forestry or logger education course. In order for the Florida Master Logger to receive credit for continuing education from a source other than FFA, the following must be submitted in its entirety to FFA by the workshop official: Verification of Attendance Form; Workshop Agenda; Society of American Foresters Contact Hour Notice form(s) -- note: total number of hours from workshop must equal a minimum of six hours; $25 Administrative Processing Fee, payable to Florida Forestry Association. If the workshop does not provide at least six hours, the Master Logger should obtain and hold all supporting documentation until he/she completes additional workshop(s) which equals a minimum of six hours. The Master Logger should submit this documentation prior to their 12/31 expiration date. If documentation is received from the Master Logger (not directly from the workshop official), FFA may contact the workshop official to obtain additional attendance confirmation. Note: the $25 fee is to be paid only once for each one year/six hour (total) credit hours. The Master Logger continuing education deadlines are on this website. The deadlines (expiration dates) are updated monthly. Click here to view.

Q. What happens if a Master Logger takes more than one continuing education workshop in a particular year?

A.

A Master Logger can take more than one six-hour SAF approved workshop in a year's time and still receive the continuing education credit. For each documented six-hour course, the Master Logger's continuing education deadline (expiration date), will advance one year.?

Q. What happens if a Master Logger lapses in his/her continuing education??

A.

A Master Logger who does not fulfill his/her continuing education requirements will lose his/her Master Logger designation and will be dropped from the Master Logger roll. The logger will then have to retake the full three-day Master Logger workshop. Beginning January 2006, a reinstatement policy went into effect which provides a one-time make-up opportunity for those Master Loggers whose designations expired the previous year (i.e., 12/31/07 expirations must fulfill the reinstatement requirements in 2008). The policy requires a reinstatement fee, along with completion of one six-hour course prior to June 30, and completion of a second six-hour course prior to December 31.?

Q. Can loggers who receive other states’ logger designations become Florida Master Loggers?

A.

Florida does have a reciprocity agreement with Georgia’s and Alabama’s logger education programs; however, Florida Best Management Practices (BMP) training must also be satisfied by loggers who want to operate as Master Loggers in our state. This training can be obtained by attending an approved one-day Florida BMP workshop. Appropriate documentation such as a current (Georgia) GTH or (Alabama) PLM ID card is required, along with proof of Florida BMP training.?

Q. What happens if a nonlogger who originally took the Master Logger class as a nonlogger now has circumstances that make it beneficial to be a Master Logger?

A.

If a person meets the basic requirements as noted in #1, he/she can write a letter on his/her company letterhead to the FFA Loggers Committee stating the change in status and how he/she meets at least the minimum requirements. The Loggers Committee will make a determination of the status change based on the letter and will reply with a letter of approval (if accepted), Master Logger certificate, ID card, cap and decals. If a person completes the Master Logger course as a nonlogger, he/she must have proof that continuing ed requirements have been maintained in order to be moved to the Master Logger status. Otherwise, the individual will have to retake the full three-day course.?

Q. What happens if a Master Logger wants to become a nonlogger??

A.

The Master Logger can write a letter on company letterhead to the FFA Loggers Committee indicating his/her change in status, and the Master Logger will be moved from the Master Logger roll to the Other Participants (nonlogger) list.

For more information, please contact:

Debbie Bryant
Florida Forestry Association
PO Box 1696
Tallahassee, FL
32302-1696
debbie@forestfla.org
850-222-5646 (phone)
850-222-6179 (fax)